There is a sign attached to the old pavilion building that now houses the Lew Whitby Memorial Scorebox that reads something like ‘Grumpy Old Gits Corner’. Every Saturday its frequented by many a former star of Harlow CC who entertain with tales of yore, whilst offering vocal ‘encouragement’ to the current generation of players.

Arguably one of the most vocal, no actually definitely THE most vocal bordering outspoken, is William ‘Bill’ Sorensen. His caustic humour and banter are actually some of things I look forward to most on the eve of home games, but then he hasn’t taken to berating the scorer just yet. To be fair Jake deals with the ‘advice’ in the best of humour as he returns a knowing nod as Bill twirls his wrist above his head with the call ‘Get the bloody spinners on’.

Cricket clubs need characters and they need an environment where past players can return and still feel part of the club. I’m proud that these guys come back every Saturday and want to watch the current generation. They don’t suffer a lack of effort and rightly so. They still have standards that they expect to be maintained in 2021. As Cliff refills the tea and coffee cups for a third time, coupled with a bourbon biccie if they’re lucky, the tales of past seasons lengthen a little. By six o’clock Cliff Clark is offering advice on how to hit it out the ground (yes the same Cliff with a top score of 2 not out) and Bill pretty much never conceded a run of his spell of 10 unbroken overs. Its magical stuff, always with a tongue in cheek, never taking themselves too seriously but never letting that fact on to those sweating it out on Marigolds,

Many of those sat on the cushioned benches have been honoured in our various episodes of Seasons from the Past but despite being an Honorary Life Member Bill's playing days are scarcely touched upon by the records that remain. Chatting away one realises that Bill’s relationship with Harlow CC has not always been one of complete harmony. He has a story to tell and in doing so it throws a light on how sport has changed in Harlow over the years. It’s a tale of a young man with plenty of sporting ability and a burning desire to win, sprinkled with a distain for authority. A proud working-class bloke who didn’t take s**t from anyone. They are attributes that hold true to this day and perhaps that fire helped him drag himself off his hospital bed and put two fingers up in the face of the Covid virus earlier this year. Thank heavens he did. Harlow Cricket Club would be a poorer and quieter place without him.

The young Bill Sorensen was a talented footballer, good enough to represent London Boys, and despite a playing career cut short by conflict with authority he won countless trophies including London Schools Cup, London Boys Cup, Royal Air Force Cup and the Co-op Ilford League. His London based football came to an abrupt conclusion after a physical altercation with a referee leading to a life time ban from that league.

Having moved to Harlow, Bill was quickly snapped up and played for several sides with distinction before pitching up with Kores Sports as they dominated the Harlow Football scene in the early 1960’s. Three league titles and several cup wins added to the Sorensen trophy haul as he displayed his skills at inside left (younger readers may be amazed to know this was the days of 2-3-5 formations – yes two in defence and five up front!). Alas, Bill’s internal pressure value exploded again when outraged at a clear goal being ignored by a referee and in the melee that followed the referee again came off second best. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the local FA had seen enough and Bill was forced to prematurely hang up his boots banned for life sine die.

Bill first played cricket at the late age of 23 but his natural eye for a ball ensured he took to the game swiftly and with ease. He rapidly became a highly effective all-rounder. Bills’ list of clubs says a lot about sport and cricket in general in the 1960’s and 70’s. In many parts of the country the best sporting sides and facilities were those run by large companies and institutions. This accords with my own cricket background ‘up North’ where the two large steelworks dominated local cricket with unrivalled playing facilities.

In Harlow it was the likes of Johnson Mathey, United Glass and Standard Telephones who produced sides to rival the more established private clubs such as Harlow. Bill played seven highly successful seasons at Johnson Mathey and claims never to have bowled a single wide or no ball in that time. A staggering 75 wickets in a season saw him awarded Bowler of the Season and amongst his honours were four Proudlock Cup victories, three of which included beating Harlow CC. Bill still delights in those victories, which you sense was a clash of more than just cricket. Bill explains “Harlow were snobs in those days. They refused to play us because we were a factory team but we were every bit as good as them and loved knocking them out the cup several times”.

A yellowing newspaper article located amongst a treasure trove of Bill’s memories shows the evidence of how companies like Johnson Mathey were able to attract good local cricketing talent to their name. A semi-final hammering of favourites Stort was completed with a who’s who of Harlow cricket included in the company’s scorecard with familiar names such as Jessey, Hill and Gladwin alongside our Bill. Bills’ old clippings folder actually backs up some of his colourful tales of matches won. Many an article describes his 7-17 rout of Old Westhamians and match winning unbeaten 68 to defeat Admiralty to name but just two. None however quite match the headline ‘Super Sorensen slays Saracens’ with the article describing Bill taking 9-24 in a 14 over spell.

A clue to the type of bowler Bill was can be found under ‘Canny Bill hits peak form’ as the local paper waxes lyrical “Bowling against a gentle breeze and in slightly humid atmosphere he moved the ball around so much in the air that the visitors were completely beaten”

The clash with authority wasn’t quite finished, despite the change of sport. Bill had played a leading role in Standard Telephones run to the GPO (General Post Office) All England Cup Final only to be thrown out of the show piece event for being a ‘ringer’.

The nomadic Sorensen found time to turn out for Tye Green and topped the run scoring for one season at least with 326 coming in 14 innings with a jug avoiding top score of 98.

A maturing and mellowing Sorensen began turning out for Stort CC (now Harlow Town) as a guest before captaining their Over 50 side with great success including a man of match performance with bat and ball in the Over 50’s Gazette Cup Final against The Willows. But wait there – what is this I have found. He may have been the star performer on cup final day but many a current Harlow player will rejoice when a recount the opening line of the scorecard.

W. Sorensen RUN OUT 29
One to tuck away lads the next time you find yourselves berated from square leg for not taking that quick single to the back drop of a chirpy Cockney voice near the scoreboard “I’d have run two there. Never run out in my career. Easy two”

Late in his cricketing career he crossed the divide to Harlow CC appearing as a guest when the Second XI were short and frequently donning the umpires coat. Now a devoted Harlow CC man Bill has given service to the club across many a committee and there are few bigger supporters of the current sides than him.

I started with the premise that clubs need characters and there are few bigger than Bill Sorensen. He certainly talks a good game but in fairness he could back it up with a long and distinguished sporting career. Long may he sit with his former teammates reflecting on past glories and hopefully the current crop can write their own victorious memories whilst he watches on. Deep down I suspect nothing would give him greater pleasure than to watch Harlow’s current players achieve the success that he earned during his own time out in the middle.